Cooking tips to help you save this Thanksgiving

Your kitchen works overtime on Thanksgiving. These simple tips can trim your energy use and save you money.

Use small appliances. Cook as many dishes as possible in your microwave, slow cooker, air fryer or toaster oven. These smaller appliances can use up to 75% less energy than a conventional oven.

Timing is everything. Have your green bean casserole ready to bake when the oven finishes preheating. Leaving the oven on longer than needed wastes energy and money.

Use the oven light. Turn on the oven light to check on the turkey instead of opening the door. Opening the door lets heat escape, lowering the oven temperature and wasting energy.

Match pans to burner size. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes heat. Choose a burner that matches the size of your pot or pan so more heat reaches your cookware and less escapes into the air.

Lower the thermostat. With turkey in the oven and mashed potatoes cooking on the stove, your home may warm up. Set your thermostat a degree or two lower to conserve energy and save on heating costs.

Fill up the dishwasher. After you've filled your belly, fill the dishwasher before running it. It uses the same amount of energy whether it's half full or fully loaded.

Still hungry for more ways to save? Check out additional holiday energy-saving tips on our website.